Minister hopes S Kalimantan farmers to plant hybrid varieties of rice

Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo drives a tractor as he attends the land optimization and rice harvest activities of Harapan Maju combined farmers group (Gapoktan) in Handil Mesjid, Anjir Pasar Lama Village, Anjir Pasar Sub-district, Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan, Monday (August 31, 2020). (Antara/HO)

Many of the varieties used by farmers are still local, not ass many as hybrid varieties. We want to know that the next season will change with superior varieties, one hectare can be 5 to 7 tons, try it here,

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo hopes farmers in South Kalimantan to plant hybrid rice varieties to boost the national food production.

"Many of the varieties used by farmers are still local, not ass many as hybrid varieties. We want to know that the next season will change with superior varieties, one hectare can be 5 to 7 tons, try it here," said the minister.

According to him, through land optimization, South Kalimantan is expected to become part of the national food barn. In line with that, the minister asked the support of land cultivation and the use of hybrid varieties to produce high productivity.

The Ministry of Agriculture continues the strive to increase food production through agricultural intensification and extensification program, one of which by optimizing swampland.

Swampland optimization is expected to increase the Planting Index (IP) as well as to boost productivity that will contribute to the availability of the national food stocks.

The efforts which including the improvement of the water management system, rehabilitating irrigation, and improving the quality of swampland fertility, are expected to increase the food crop production.

The minister believes that South Kalimantan has the potential to strengthen national food security. Based on the governor's report, the province's rice production is already overstock.

"We are trying to optimize the areas still possible to develop in South Kalimantan. We need to improve water management, farming road, we arrange everything for planting." the minister said as he attended land optimization and rice harvest of Harapan Maju combined farmers group (Gapoktan) in Anjir Pasar Lama Village, Barito Kuala, Monday.

In 2019, in South Kalimantan, 12,000 hectares of swampland optimization were allocated in 9 districts, including Barito Kuala covering 28,052 hectares. In 2020, 9,000 hectares is allocated in two districts, namely Barito Kuala and South Hulu Sungai.